The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 130

2. In matters of vwl,ence. Such as (1) "A thing taken away by violence,n A horrible example is furnished in the case of the vineyard of Na.both (1 Kings w.16, 16). (2) Any kind of oppression. Exactions under pressure of necessity. Exactions under threats. Withholding adequate remuneration for service (see Jas. ii 6; v. 4-6). II. AGGRAVATIONS OF THE WBONOS. These are: 1. When lies are told to cover them. (1) Some may have the hardihood stoutly to deny, in the face of witnesses to the con- trary, that they came into fraudulent possession of property. (2) It is more easily denied vrhen there are no witnesses to attest delivery, or prove custody or trust against the holder. (3) Lies are told in the forms of evasion, shuffling, and false colouring. 2. When oatM are talun to give countenance to the lies. (1) God is a witness of everything (2 Chron. xvi. 9; Ps. xxxiv. 16; Prov. xv. 3). He is often a silent observer. It is an awful aggravation of a wrong to think that it is done under the eye of God. (2) But when an oath is taken to cover a wrong, God is appealed to. What a fearful outrage against the God of truth, to be thus called in to attest a lie I (3) Whether a wrong be done before God as a "witness," which it must be if it is done at all; or whether he be" appealed" to by an oath, every trespass against man is also "a trespass against Jehovah" (see Jas. v, 4). Trespasses cannot, therefore, be treated lightly because of the insignificance of the person wronged, when the Almighty also is concerned. In all the interest which God takes in the justice of human actions, he has the good of man at heart. III. THE LAW OF REPARATION. 1. He shall make up the wrong to the person injured. (1) "He shall restore it in the principal." If this cannot be done in the identical thing, then an "estimation" of its value must be taken, and payment made, viz. "in shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary" (comp. eh. v. 16). (2) " He shall add the fifth part more thereto." This is a proper consideration for the inconvenience the owner may have suffered through the fraud. But if the " estimation" be, as some read it in eh. v. 15, "two shekels," then the restoration would be "fourfold," since the atonement money was " half a shekel." This would a..,crree with Exod. xxii. 1 (comp. also 2 Sam. xii. 6; Luke xix. 8). (3) And he shall "give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering." The trespass offering will not be accepted else. Job's friends had to make peace with him before their sacrifices would be e.ccepted (Job xlii. 8; see also Matt. v. 23, 24). 2. Be shall then "'bring his trespass offering ,.into the Lord." (1) "A ram that ie perfect." God will accept nothing that is imperfect. Therefore we must come to him through Christ, who can invest us with hie righteousness. (2) " With thy estimation, for a trePpa.ss offering, unto the priest." This, according to eh. v. 15, would be of the value of two shekels. (3) "And the priest shall make an atonement for him," etc. Reflect: What a power there is in conscience I What a costly thing is sin I How carefully should it be avoided) Let us avail ourselves of ,the benefits of redemp- tion.-J. A. M. Vere. 1-7.-Hwman O'IJJ'fl,e'fship and dishonesty. From the Divine ;directions here given as to the trespass offering, in the case of wrong between man and ma.n, we gather- I. THAT GoD ALLOWS ue TO CONSIDER ms GIFTS AS BELON0INO TO OURSELVES. By inheritance or by labour we acquire property; a man has a right to se.y, concerning an object thus legally acquired, "This ie mine." The possession of property is carefully guarded by the declarations of God's Word ; "the commandments of the Lord " make the violation of this right a very serious sin (see text). It is well, however, to remember that human ownership is never absolute; it ie subject to: 1. God's prior and supreme claim (Ps. xxiv. 1; 1 Chron. xxix. 11 ; Hag. Ii. 8). 2. Our duty, in holding it, to keep in view the general good; e.g. large landowner has no right to let ground lie waste, and be covered with seed-sowing weeds. 8. Our liability, at any hour, to lay it down a.t God's wilL II. THAT MEN FIND VARIOUS WAYS OF DIBREOARDIJSO TIIIB BIOllT, Many forms of dishonesty prevail in every land; it is an inevitable excrescence of sin. Five special cases are here provided against: 1. Breach of trust, or failure to return anything borrowed; lying in" that which was delivered him to keep" (ver. 2). 2. Unfairness in partnership or co-operation; "i.11 fellowship." 3. Violent appropriation or hardship ck. VI. 1-7.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICU5. 89